Presser-foot mechanism for sewing-machines.



L. F.. JOHSUN as; E. ERICKSON. PRESSER FDOT MBGHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED NOV.'14, 1913.

1.133.19. .Y Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1 .Y

.M @am L. E. JQHNSON-& E; ERICKSON. PRESSER FOOT MEGHANISM {OR SEWING MACHINES.

lRatentedl Mar. 23

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

L. E. JOHNSON N ERICKSON. PRES'SER FOOT MEGHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 14, 1913.

LILA.. y PatentOd Marfg, 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3. 'Ff-Fu NNN. N l O mi ."1 mi lll/.m/ /w 160 O @Q MF 5i M3 l@ Y Q im P5 .mi *zZ/1 v I i L, .5. JOHNSON @L E. ERICKSON. PRESSBR FOOT MEGHANISM POR SEWING MACHINES.

` 4 APPLICATION FILED NOV.14, 1913. l Ll 83 lw Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

' man raras LAWRENCE E. J'OHSON, WIN'I'HROP, AND EDWARD ERCKSON, OF LYNN, MASSA'- CHUSETTS, ASSIG-NORS T VICTOR SHOE MACHNERY CO., OF BOSTON, MASSACHU- SETTS, A CORPORATION' 0F MASSACHUSETTS.

` IPR-ESSEBfFOOT IVIEGHANISM FORSEWNG-MACHINES.

v Specification of Zetters atent.

Patented Mar. 23, 1215.

l @riginal application led May 19, 1913, Serial No. 768,671. Divided and this application filed November 14,

1913. Serial No. 801,277.

vLynn, in thecounty of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have in vented certain new and useful lmprovements in ,Presser-Foot Mechanisms for Sewing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

r1`his invention relates to improvements in presser foot mechanisms for shoe sewing machines having for its object the production of a device which will automatically accommodate itself for various thicknesses of material and in so doing will regulate the length of thread to be drawn from the source of supply.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction .and arrangement of parts which will be fully understood by reference to the description of the drawings and to the claims hereinafter given.

Of the drawings: Figure 1 represents a plan of a sewing machine embodying the principles of the invention. Fig. 2 represents a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 represents an elevation of the right end of same. Fig. 4 represents a .vertical section of the same, looking to Athe right, the cutting `planeA being online 4-4 on Fig. 1. Fig. 5 represents. a. sectional detail, the cutting plane being on line 5 5 on Fig. 3, and Fig. 6 represents a sectional detail, the cutting plane being on line 6-6 on Fig. v4.

Similar characters designate like parts throughout the several igures of the drawlIl S. I

n the drawings, 20 Vis the base of the machine adapted to be secured to a column and having the end frames 21 and 22 provided with. bearings for the revoluble shaft 23. The revoluble shaft 23 has the driving wheel 24 secured Vto one end thereof while to its is keyed the cam disk 25. 1n-

,and keyed to the shaft 28 are the cam disks 26 and 27. To the inner side of the side frame 21 is secured the work support 28 which may be o1' any well-known construction. r1`he side frame 21- has also, formed Y.

upon its inner face a race 30 for the shuttle 31 which 1s driven in any wellknown manner. I

The thread t is drawn from any suitable source of supply and passes over a fixed rod 103 extending from one side frame 21'to the other 22, a pin 104 extending outwardly from this rod 103 positioning the thread t thereon and preventing it from slipping lengthwise thereof during the feeding of the work. The thread t then passes around a pin 105 secured to the thread lock cam lever 106 which is pivoted at 107 and vhas at its rear end a'roller 108 in the cam path 109 formed in the right hand side of the disk 27.

The thread t passes from the pin 105 over a stationary pin 110 in the side frame 22 and then through slots in two downwardly v extending arms 111 of a. forked member 112.

The thread t passes from one arm 111 to the other arm 111 under a stud or pin 113 projecting horizontally from the side of the forward end of the lever 106. From the forked member 112 the thread t passes through a hole 114 in the movable frame 62 to an eye 115 on the side frame 22 and thence into the wax pot 116 secured to the side frames 21 and 22 by the screws 117. To the front wall of the wax pot 116 is clamped, by means of the clamp screw 118, a support 119 having two arms 120 extending into the wax pot 116, each arn; 120 being provided with a sheave 121 around which the thread tpasses through the liquid wax in said pot 116.

The disk 27 is provided on its outer face with a cam path 141 in which is positioned a roller 142 mounted on the end of the lever 143 pivoted at 144 and provided at its outer end with a transverse groove 145 in which is mounted the slidable member 112 having rack teeth 146 in one edge thereof.

The pivot .144 is provided with a gear 147 on its inner end the teeth of which mesh with the rack teeth 146 of themember 112. A plate 148 secured to the end of the lever 143. prevents the displacement of the member 112. This rack member 112 is provided with a lateral extension '149 to which is secured the presser foot 150 of ordinary constructionfA The extension 149 forms a A? in the manner just described so that it \will rest upon the upper l'ace of the work, after i which it will be automatically adjusted as the material varies in thickness.

j foot 150 in contact head to the slidable member 112 which is adapted to contact with the upper. face of the lever 143 to limit the downward movement of said member 112.

Extending upwardly from the extension 149 and through the member 151 secured to the lever 143 is a rod 152 surrounded by a helical spring 153 which tends to retain the presser foot 150 in its `normal position and against the tension of which said presser foot is adapted to be lifted.

The pivot member 144 is mounted in a tubular sleeve, 154 revoluble in the frame 22 but prevented from end movement by the pin 155 extending into the annular peripheral groove 156 therein. The reduced end 157 of the sleeve 154 extends into the lever 143, this end 157 and a '.portion of hthe shank 144 forming the pvot for said lever. rfhe lower end of the presser foot 150 has arreoperating face 158 parallel with the upperface of the work support 28.

It isobvious that when the slidable member 112; is moved transversely of the outer end of thelever 143 the lower face 158 of the presser fot`150 and the upper face of the Work support 28 will remain constantly in parallelism in whatever position the presser foot may be while exerting a gripping pressure upon the work.

Secured to the shank 144 is an arm 15S) adapted to be manually operated to adjust the presser foot 150 relative to the lever 143 and to accommodate it to varying thick nesses of material. r1`his is accomplished by the operator moving the arm 159 and thereby turning the pinion 147, raising and lowering the presser foot at will.

When any work is placed upon the support 28 the operator adjusts the presser` foot Owing to the fact that the slidable member 112 is located outside of the pinion 147 and between it and a transverse guide wall 145 formed in the lever 1-1-25, any movement im t parted to said lever 143 by the cam path 141 will be imparted to the presser foot 150, thereby removing it from the work when it is desired to feed the latter, or exerting aV gripping pressure when the work has been fed. The main portion of the cam path 141 retains the operating face 158 o1' the presser with the work on the support 28 and causes\i\t to exert a gripping pressure thereon, but vhen it is desired to move the work along the aipport, the roller 142 ofthe lever l-l moves nto the portion 160 of the cam path lll, tvreby causing the presser foot to be lifted l'ro dthe work temporarily while said work is being moved upon the support into a new position.

Opposite the end of the shank lil-fl and the outer face of the lever 159 secured thereto, is a friction member 16()X consisting of a pad 161 in a recess in the inner face of the ear 162 on the lever 163, this pad 161 having a shank extending through and threaded to said ear 162 which shank is provided with a locknut 161 to retain said pad in adjusted position. r1`he lever 163 is pivoted to the frame 22 at 165 and has at its rear end a roller 166 held in contact with the cam 167 on the outer face of the disk 27 by means of a spring 168 interposed between and secured to said lever 163 and the frame 22.

When the presser foot is moved downwardly by the cam-controlled lever 143 the Work will be securely gripped thereby against the support 28, the face 158 being forced into the face of the work by the cam 141. The machines are built with a loose `lit for the rod 152 in the member 151 to permit of the member 112 being cramped between the guide walls 145 when the lever 113 is moved about its pivot 141. Just prior to the roll 142 entering the throw 160 to re'- lease the gripping pressure upon the work the pad 161 is moved into contact with the outer face of the lever 159 and locks the pinion 14T, thereby preventing any sliding movement of the member 112. Consequently, when the roller 142 enters the throw 160 the presser foot 150 will be bodily lifted from the work and will remain free from contact therewith until the completion of the feeding operation, when it will be released and the spring 153 will be permitted to return the presser foot into light contact with the work before the roll 142 enters the`concentric portion of the cam 141 to produce the gripping pressure upon the work.

y lt is obvious that when the slidable member 112 is moved transversely of the outer end of the lever 118 the lower operating face 158 of the presser foot 15() will remain constantly in parallelisni with the worksup"- port 28, regardless of the thickness of material being` acted upon. 'lhis face 158 will only assume a'position at an angle to the work support 28`\=when the presser foot is lil'ted by the aetioirol the throw 160 upon the roller 142 at the rear end of the lever' 1413 to permit the workto'be fed. At all times when this roller 1l2\-is in the concorrtrie portion of the cam path\14l the face 158` of the presser foot 150 is parallel with the face ot' the work support 28 and this is true regardless of the position of said presser foot 1.50 relative to the lever 143 at this time. The work being operatednpon is always thicker than the space shown in Fig.v 5 between the lace-158 and the work support ,28 so that when work is placed upon the Work support 28 and the cam 141 oper` ates upon the lever 143, said face will be forced into gripping contact withy said work and hold it securely upon sald support.

' `inafter describeduntil Athe work has been fed, after which `the face 158 will be returned into light 'contact'with the -work by means of the `.spring 153, the tension of which is only sufficient to position said presser foot '150 .without exerting any gripping pressure upon the Work.

When the machine is in operation the member '149 will be separated from the upper face of the lever 143 and the face 158 of the presser foot 150 will be held by the spring 153 in light contact with the work until the first stitch has been formed. When the lever 143 is movedabout its pivot by the throw 160 the presser foot 150 will be lifted free from conta'ct with the work and will beheld in elevated position until the work has been fed. At the conclusion of the work feeding operation the spring 153 will force lthe face 158 into light contact -with the work, this action occurring while the roll 142 is still in the throw 160. As the roll 142 moves into the concentric portion of the cam 141 the face 158 of the presser foot 150 will be forced into the material and a grip ping pressure exerted thereon. v

The slide 112 cannot be moved relatively l to the lever 143, when power is applied to the presser foot 150. 1t is obvious, however, that when the cam 141 acts on the left end of thelever 143 this lever will be moved about its pivot 144 and carry the members 149-150 therewith, the presser foot 150 being caused thereby to give a gripping pressure upon the work on the support 28. This action is due largely to the location of the pivot 144 adjacent to the sliding member 112 so that svhen said lever 143 is moved about its pivot while the presser foot 150 is in contact with the work the slide 112 will .be cramped between the guide walls 145 on the lever 143 and by this cram-ping opl eration said slide Will be prevented from moving transversely of the lever 143. Consequently when the left hand end of the lever is moved upwardly by the cam 141, the operating face 158 of the presser foot 150 will be forced into the yielding material upon the Work support 28 and rmly grip the same. While the work is gripped in this manner the needle enters the material and a stitch is formed. Subsequent-ly, while the work is still gripped, the awl is moved v to the right and then pierces the material. While the awl is still in the material the roller 142 will enter the throw 160 and causes the gripping pressure of the presserl foot to be released, and the face 158 thereof will be lifted from the work preparatory to another feeding of the same, this feeding bebeing accomplished by the movement of the awl to the left.'

The pin 113 is adapted to move in the forked end of the member 112, said pin being moved by the action of the cam path 109 on the lever '106.in the end of which said pin is mounted. The cam path 109 is provided with a throw adapted to oscillate the lever 106 at the proper time to measure off the given quantity of thread for the stitch,

off different lengths of thread for different thicknesses of material and this is readily accomplished by means of the slidable member 112, it being self-evident that when the presser foot 150 is raised the thread carrying passages in the arms 111 of the member 112 are similarly raised to a new position corresponding with the thickness of the material and when in this raised position a greater quantity of thread will' be drawn from the source of supply by the movement of the pin 113 in the forked end of the member 112, the lowermost position 'of said pin being the same under all conditions. It is obvious that this thread measuring device' will operate after the presser foot 150 has returned into contact with the work. "When the takeup device is operating, the pin 113 will be in its highest position and the pin will be in position to coact with the pin to lock the thread to prevent it from being fed from the source of supply.

The roller 108 is of less diameter than the width of thc cam path 109 and is in contact with the inner wall of said path only when the lever 106 is being moved about its pivot to measure the thread. The roller 108 never contacts with the opposite wall of said path.

The pivot member 107 has secured to its outer end an arm 170 to the end of which is secured a spring 171 the opposite end of which is fastened to the frame 22 at 172. Illhis spring 171 retains the pin 105'in contact with the pin 110 except during the thread measuring operation.

The pivot member 107 is revolublyfmount.-

ed in an eccentric bushing 174 in the frame 22 to which it is clamped bya bolt 175 when vadjusted by the handle 176; lBy`adjusting the position of the pivot member 107 inthis manner the normal length of thread-for each stitch may be regulated, while by means of the mechanism for positioning the slide 112 the supply of thread for various thicknesses of material may be automatically determined, the various lengths of thread measured olf being proportionate to thcthieknesses of material through which the thread qis to be fed.

After the hook of the shuttle 3l has carried the loop of thread to a point where it should be dropped to encircle and be drawn up `with its companion thread to form a stitch, the takeup lever 125 is operated to put the proper stress upon the needle thread to eilect this result. lt is then necessary to lock this thread between the takeup and the thread supply (not shown) to prevent it from being drawn from-the latter. This is accomplished by the locking pins 105 and 110, the cam path 109 being so constructed as to eii'eet this result at the proper time. It will be seen that with this locking device 105-110, the thread is positively held against movement without danger of' the takeup "stealing thread from the supply and failing to properly set the stitch.

The machine is provided with mechanisms for forming the stitch, feeding the work, forming the loop, all as fully described in anotherapplication liled by us May 19,1913, and numbered 768,671, oi which this application is a division. As these mechanisms form no part of the present invention no detailed description thereof is herein given.

It is obvious that by the construction herein shown and described a very eli'cctual presser foot mechanism is provided that is capable of regulating the amount of thread to be drawn i' om the source of supply, this amount depending upon the thickness of the material being operated upon.

It is believed that the operation of the mechanism and its many advantages will be fully apparent without further description.

Ilaving thus described our invention, we claim:

l. In a shoe-sewing machine, the combination of a work support; a presser foot; a slidable support there tor; a spring acting on said support; a cani controlled lever carrying said slidable support; and a cam controlled friction member to retain said presser foot in raised position against the tension of raid spring for a prei'letermimal time.

2. In a shoe-sewing machine, the combination of a pivoted cam controlled lever; a slidable member normally positioned thereon and movable therewith, said member being provided with rack teeth; a work' support; a presser foot secured to said slidable member; a pinion at the pivotal axis of said lever engaging said rack teeth; and means ior preventing the rotation of said pinion for a predetermined time.

In a shoe-sewing machine, the combination of a pivoted cam-controlled lever; a

slidable member normally positioned thereon and movable therewith, said member being provided with rack teeth; a work support; a presser foot secured to said slidable member; a pinion at the pivotal yaxis of said lever engaging said rack teeth; and cam controlled means for preventing the rotation of said pinion for a predetermined time.

4. In a shoeewing machine, the combination of a pivoted cam controlled lever; a slidable member normally positioned thereon and movable therewith, said member being provided with rack teeth; a work support; a presser foot secured to said slidable member; a pinion at the pivotal axis of said lever engaging said rack teeth; and a cam controlled friction member for controlling the rotation of said pinion.

5. In a shoe-sewing machine, the combination of a pivoted cam controlled lever; a

slidable member normally positioned thereon and movable therewith, said member being provided with rack teeth; a work support; a presser foot secured to said slidable member; a pinionhaving an axial shank revoluble in a bearing; a handle secured to said shank; a friction member adapted to bear against-said handle and the end of said shank; and cam mechanism for controlling thc operation of said friction member.

(i. In ashoe-sewing machine, the combination of a pivoted cam controlled lever;

a member carried thereby and slidable trans- I versely thereof having two thread Guiding arms; a work support; a presser foot secured to said slidable member; a cam controlled lever having a pin in one end normally positioned between said arms and adapted to be moved relativelyto said arms to draw out a required length ot' thread; and an adjustable eccentric bushing for the pivot of said lever.

7. In a shoe-sewing machine,l the combination of a pivoted cam controlled lever; a member carried thereby andslidable transversely thereof, having two thread guiding arms; a work support; a presser foot secured to said slidable member; a cam controlled lever having a pin in one end normally positioned between said arms and adapted to be moved relatively to said arms to draw out a required .length of thread; a stud on said eam controlled lever around which the thread passes; a fixed stud coaeting therewith over which said thread passes; and a spring for retaining said studs normally in engagement to lock the thread.

8. In a shoe-sewing n'lachine, the combination ot' a presser foot;.a pivoted cam controlled lever provided with means for controlling the movement ot'fsaid presser toot for various thicknesses of wor i; a thread measuring lever; a thread engaging pin in the outer end of said thread measuring lever; a stud on said thread measuring lever around Which the thread passes; a

'fixed stud over which the thread passes;

means for normally retaining said studs in engagemcnta bifurcated thread Lrinde straddlmg said pm; and means controlled by the presser foot for positioning said guidev relatively to said pin accordingr to the thicl of material .being operated upon.

9. In a shoe-sewing` machine, the combination of a pivoted cam controlled lever; a presser foot carried thereby and automatically adjustable thereon for varying thicknesses ,of Work; a thread measuring lever;

a thread engaging pinin the outer endet y said thread measuring lever; a movable studv nation of a pivoted cam controlled lever;

a presser 'foot carried thereby and automatically adjustable thereon for varying thicknesses of material; a thread measuring lever; a thread engaging pin in the outer end of said thread ineasuring lever, a movable stud operable by said thread measuring lever around which the thread passes; a fixed stud ove. Which the thread passes and with which the movable stud periodically contacts to lock the thread; a bfurcated thread `guide straddling s. id pin; and means controlled by the.4 presser foot for automatically varying the position ot said thread `e'uide to regulate the amount of thread to be delivered according to the thielmess'of the work being operated upon.

Signed by us at Boston, Mass., this 22nd day of October, 1913.

LAWRENCE E. JOHNSON. EDWARD ERICKSON. lVitne-sses:

VALTER E. LOMBARD, 'NATHAN C. LOMBARD. 

